CeraVe benzene class action overview:
- Who: Plaintiff Holly Grossenbacher filed a class action lawsuit against CeraVe parent company L’Oreal.
- Why: The lawsuit claims CeraVe benzoyl peroxide products contain the human carcinogen benzene at dangerous levels.
- Where: The CeraVe class action was filed in federal court in Louisiana.
L’Oreal is facing a class action lawsuit claiming that its CeraVe benzoyl peroxide cleanser contains a dangerous level of the carcinogenic chemical benzene.
The L’Oreal BPO cleansers include CeraVe Acne Foam Cream Cleanser, which has 4% benzoyl peroxide, and CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Wash, which has 10% benzoyl peroxide.
In 2023, independent laboratory Valisure took a representative sample that showed the benzoyl peroxide products contained benzene levels many times higher than allowed in any regulated drug, the CeraVe benzene class action claims.
Valisure’s representative sample indicated CeraVe cleansers have benzene levels ranging from 5 parts per million (ppm) to more than 12 ppm. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows benzene levels of only up to 2 ppm — and even then, only if its use is unavoidable in the manufacturing process, the CeraVe benzoyl peroxide cleansers class action says.
“The rates of degradation and benzene impurities in the BPO Products occur at a systematic rate,” the CeraVe benzene class action says.
The Environmental Protection Agency has also set a 0.0005 ppm maximum permissible level of benzene in drinking water, with a goal of zero.
Benzene can cause leukemia, nervous system issues, CeraVe benzene class action says
Benzene is a solvent in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries that is primarily sourced from petroleum.
Benzene can impact the central nervous system and may affect reproductive organs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The World Health Organization considers benzene to be a genotoxic carcinogen.
The National Cancer Institute also says that benzene has been linked to leukemia and other blood disorders.
The companies behind CeraVe lotions faced a 2020 class action lawsuit over what the plaintiff called false claims about their supposedly oil-free skincare products.
Have you purchased CeraVe benzoyl peroxide cleanser? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiff is represented by Jennifer Hoekstra of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis and Overholtz PLLC.
The CeraVe benzene class action lawsuit is Grossenbacher v. L’Oreal USA Inc., Case No. 2:24-cv-00663, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
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54 thoughts onCeraVe class action claims benzoyl peroxide cleanser contains benzene
Been using several years
I’ve been using it for months, will definitely throw it away now!
I am currently using CeraVe
I have two daughters who used this product. And noticed after using it, it didn’t resolve their issue. Seem like it made one of my daughters skin worse.
I have two daughters that I used the CeraVe cleanser and body wash on. Both said their skin was not improving. One told me that after applying it was burning her, and developed even more bumps that were painful. Not too long after that I noticed it was a recall on all these acne products, so I took them back and asked for a refund at a local Heb here in town.
Me and my daughter use exactly the same 4% and 10% cleansers. What to do now? It scares me.
My two daughters (8 and 19 years old) were told to use this and panoxyl for the past few years. I’m beyond upset!
I have !!! I was actually recommend this from dermatologist
I have !!! To many times
I use CeraVe a few times, and every time I use it, it felt like my face was on fire.
Our dermatologist recommended my teenage daughter use CeraVe. After years of using CeraVe, my daughter still has acne,